Singapore is 5th cleanest government in the world, said an annual anti-corruption report

SINGAPORE - Singapore came in fifth in a list ranking the world's cleanest governments, while Somalia and North Korea tied for the dubious distinction of most corrupt. Singapore also ranks second within Asia Pacific, behind New Zealand, which topped the global ranking of 183 countries and territories, according to the annual Corruption Perceptions Index report released by Transparency International yesterday. The report, now in its 16th year, is based on 17 separate surveys and assessments, including data on "enforcement of anti-corruption laws, access to information and conflicts of interest". It ranks countries based on how corrupt their public sector is perceived to be. Worldwide, the other countries in the top 10 are Finland and Denmark (tied in second place), Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Australia and Switzerland (tied for eighth place) and Canada. Hong Kong ranke...